Friday, January 7, 2011

Opal

The 258 meter “CMA CGM Opal” leaving our port on New Year's Eve. She sails under Liberian flag and was built in 2009 at Hanjin Construction in Subic Bay, Philippines.The length of the tug “Piero Neri”, escorting the “Opal”, is the same of the cargo ship's beam (width): 31 meters.

Having an active freight business in Livorno's port must be good for the local economy. For you, scenes like this are normal. For others like Randy and me, who don't see freight movement very often, the scene is unusual.

@ Jack - While the Opal was leaving, two more container ships were waiting to enter, but ferries and car carriers are also important now.Larger container ships (around 300 meters) still have problems negotiating the relatively shallow canal leading to the cargo port.